High-performing schools with middle grades are academically excellent. They challenge all students to use their minds well.

Developmental Responsiveness

High-performing schools with middle grades are sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence.

Social Equity

High-performing schools with middle grades are socially equitable, democratic, and fair. They provide every student with high quality teachers, resources, learning opportunities, and supports. They keep positive options open for all students.

Organizational Structures & Processes

High-performing schools with middle grades are learning organizations that establish norms, structures, and organizational arrangements to support and sustain their trajectory toward excellence.

NCMLE is your resource for information, strategies, best practices, professional development, and middle level advocacy. Our focus is on the middle grades and we are here to help you provide a great experience for students.

President's Message

Dear Middle Grades Educator,

Welcome to the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education website. As a Middle Level Educator, you have chosen to be an integral part of the development of children at one of the most crucial times in their lives. The NCMLE is here to offer resources, networking, and support for you; in an effort to keep you in the forefront of current pedagogy and inclusion of technology that will keep your students excited about learning.

The NCMLE also offers the best Middle Grades Conference for educators in the country. We are now “gearing up” for our 40th conference, which will be held March 15-17, 2015 in Greensboro, NC. The theme for this conference will be “Accelerate Achievement in the Middle”. Check back often to see who our special guests will be and what might be going on at the conference next spring. Please get your staff development funds together, plan to celebrate with us at the conference next spring, and bring a friend!

During the conference, awards are given to honor exceptional educators. These include superintendents, principals, teachers, and support personnel. Look around your buildings and LEA’s and consider nominating these special educators for a well deserved “pat on the back”! Also, if you think your school stands out above and beyond others, consider looking at becoming a “Schools to Watch”. This process gives your school the opportunity to take an inward look at what you do well. Visit our link on the website to see the criteria and due dates for applications. We need to honor and recognize our wonderful middle grades schools and educators!

NCMLE also offers an online publication that contains information on the most current practices and programs available in middle level education. You will also find us on Facebook and Twitter. As you have time, “like us” and help us increase our number counts as well as share information with your colleagues across the globe. We need to work together and share what we are doing to improve the lives of middle level students. NCMLE is a wonderful voice for education and needs your participation in every way!

NCMLE is a professional organization that strives to support every aspect of Middle Level Education. By joining, you will have access to professional development opportunities, best practices, current research, and much more.

I look forward to working for you over the next year as president of the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education. It is my goal to help make Middle Level Education in North Carolina a beacon of excellence throughout the nation as we prepare to “Accelerate Achievement in the Middle”.

With an Abundance of Appreciation for what YOU do each day for our children,